Bell Gully vs Simpson Grierson:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Simpson Grierson had more branded searches than Bell Gully among large commercial law firms in New Zealand. Simpson Grierson had about 2,950 branded searches, while Bell Gully had 2,420. Simpson Grierson made up 16.2% of all large commercial law firm searches we track, and Bell Gully accounted for 13.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about large commercial law firms, Bell Gully appeared in all five answers and Simpson Grierson in four. Bell Gully was mentioned before Simpson Grierson in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Simpson Grierson, about 22% more searches than Bell Gully
Who does AI mention more?
Bell Gully, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Bell Gully, named ahead of Simpson Grierson in every answer
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Top large commercial law firms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Bell Gully appeared in all five answers. Simpson Grierson was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Bell Gully was listed before Simpson Grierson in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Russell McVeagh5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Chapman Tripp5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Bell Gully5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Simpson Grierson4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
MinterEllisonRuddWatts4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
DLA Piper3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Buddle Findlay2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Dentons2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about large commercial law firms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which large commercial law firm should I hire in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best large commercial law firms in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best large commercial law firm in New Zealand for a complex business matter?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“top law firms nz”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“commercial law firm nz”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is Bell Gully or Simpson Grierson more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Bell Gully and Simpson Grierson by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight large commercial law firms we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Simpson Grierson, Bell Gully. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Russell McVeagh | Simpson Grierson | Chapman Tripp | MinterEllisonRuddWatts | Bell Gully | Buddle Findlay | Dentons | DLA Piper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 16.8% | 16.4% | 13.4% | 13.9% | 13.5% | 13.4% | 9.3% | 3.3% |
| Nov 2025 | 19.6% | 15.5% | 15.3% | 12.5% | 12.8% | 12.7% | 8.6% | 3.1% |
| Dec 2025 | 17% | 16.4% | 16.2% | 13.4% | 12.9% | 12.8% | 8.7% | 2.6% |
| Jan 2026 | 17.3% | 16.9% | 13.1% | 11.6% | 16.8% | 13.1% | 7.8% | 3.3% |
| Feb 2026 | 17.7% | 14% | 13.8% | 14.2% | 13.9% | 13.8% | 8.6% | 4.2% |
| Mar 2026 | 14.5% | 14.4% | 14.1% | 12% | 14.2% | 14.1% | 9.1% | 7.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 15.9% | 15.3% | 15.1% | 13% | 15.3% | 12.5% | 8.3% | 4.6% |
| May 2026 | 14.9% | 14.7% | 14.4% | 13% | 18% | 12% | 9.4% | 3.6% |
| Jun 2026 | 16.8% | 16.5% | 13.5% | 13.3% | 13.6% | 13.5% | 8.8% | 4% |
| Jul 2026 | 17.6% | 17.3% | 14.1% | 12.1% | 14.1% | 14.1% | 6.5% | 4.2% |
| Aug 2026 | 16.1% | 15.7% | 15.5% | 13.2% | 12.9% | 15.5% | 7.4% | 3.8% |
| Sep 2026 | 16.4% | 16.2% | 15.9% | 14.4% | 13.3% | 13.3% | 7.3% | 3.2% |
How has the Bell Gully and Simpson Grierson comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Bell Gully took it in May 2026, Simpson Grierson took it in June 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Bell Gully’s share of searches among large commercial law firms in New Zealand moved from 13.5% to 13.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 2.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Simpson Grierson’s share of searches among large commercial law firms in New Zealand moved from 16.4% to 16.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.9K to 3K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand large commercial law firms in September 2026?
1 change

In September 2026, Bell Gully rose from 6th to 5th among large commercial law firms in New Zealand.
How are branded searches counted?
5 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Bell Gully’s and Simpson Grierson’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Bell Gully
2 branded search terms
- Bell Gully
- bell gully lawyers
Simpson Grierson
3 branded search terms
- simpson and grierson
- Simpson Grierson
- simpson grierson lawyers
Other head-to-heads among large commercial law firms

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Simpson Grierson vs Chapman Tripp: compare popularity
Simpson Grierson vs MinterEllisonRuddWatts: compare popularity

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